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Monday, December 8, 2014

Box:
Gifts for the family can be sent to MORC, Reimbursement Department, 16200 19
Mile Road, Clinton Township, MI. 48038. Call (586) 263-8977 for more
information if needed.

By
JERRY WOLFFE

An
Oakland County woman and her two grandchildren with autism are likely to have
new clothes and toys this holiday season due to the generosity of workers at a
Clinton Township nonprofit.

The
family recently moved to Oakland County from Florida, leaving all their
possessions behind, said Nancy A. Ricotta, reimbursement supervisor at the
Macomb-Oakland Regional Center, Inc.

All
nine members in her department including Ricotta – Shelly Cousins, Audrey
DiFranco, Sue Lencheck, Teresa Miller, Tracy Paris-Koka, Renee Stroze, Joanna
Tohme, and Kathleen Zelmanski -- are donating to the family so they have
enough food and some new outfits for Christmas.

“Their
story touched my heart and I wanted them to have a wonderful Christmas.

“We
are lucky” to have identified a family “who is badly in need of our assistance
this holiday season,” Ricotta said.

“Please, please help me” to help my
granddaughter and grandson to have a nice Christmas, the grandmother said.
“I’ve been waiting to buy a weight blanket for my grandson and some stuff for
my granddaughter but because I don’t have any money I haven’t been able to buy
anything.”

MORC so far has acquired some basic
furniture and household goods for the family. The gifts will be delivered
around Christmas.

The
grandma, Carmen Nieves-Sosa, and her 10-year-old grandson, Isaias
Ortiz-Hernandez, and 7-year-old granddaughter, Aiyana Jordan, live in Clarkston
and the children attend Andersonville Elementary School in Clarkston.

“The
grandmother is an extremely strong advocate for her grandchildren,” Ricotta
said.

The
grandmother is eager to learn about the needs of her grandchildren so she can
help them develop to their full potential, Ricotta said.

“With
the determination of the grandmother, the support of family, and supportive
services, this family will have the tools to help the children learn the skills
they will need to live happy and fulfilling lives,” she added.

Items
needed for Aiyana include shoes, boots, a coat, tops, underwear, artist
training cards, and a pink/white Hello Kitty among other things. Isaias needs
pants, shirts, shoes, boots, tennis shoes, hat, gloves, and scarf and would
like balloon rockets with a pump.

The
grandmother still needs pots and pans, sheets for twin beds, pajamas, gloves, a
coat, pants and tops, snow boots, and any type of developmental or educational
materials for the children.

“We
are truly lucky to live the lives we live,” said Ricotta, a six-year veteran of
MORC. “This is our way of sharing some of our good fortune, especially during
the holiday season.”

Jerry Wolffe is the writer-in-residence,
advocate-at-large at the Macomb-Oakland Regional Center. He can be reached at
(586) 263-8950.